Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

With this procedure, the doctor makes a small puncture in an artery of the wrist or groin, and guides a microcatheter (small flexible tube similar to a cooked spaghetti noodle) into the prostate arteries. Microscopic beads are then infused into the arteries, where they lodge and temporarily block blood flow to the prostate gland causing it to shrink, soften, and absorb over time.

Advantages of PAE

• No surgical incision or device inserted into the urethra
• Performed in an outpatient setting under “twilight sleep” with no need for general anesthesia
• Painless procedure lasting approximately 1 hour
• Post-PAE slide effects are minimal and usually resolve within 1-3 days
• Very low complication rate and no reports of impotence or incontinence after PAE
• Symptom improvement occurs 2-3 weeks after the procedure

The IR Centers at Arizona Urology Specialists

Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty that performs minimally invasive treatments using radiologic imaging for procedure guidance. Interventional radiologists at the IR Centers at Arizona Urology Specialists perform Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE).

Learn more by visiting the IR Centers at Arizona Urology Specialists location page.